
Checklist WordPress: what to check before launching a website
TIPS & TRICKS, TUTORIAL
Checklist WordPress:
what to check before launching a website

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Fabio Sarcona, Web Developer, Italy
24 Jun 2016
Before launching a website it is essential to make sure that it is fully functional and that every request of the customer has been developed.
But it can happen that carelessness or lack of methodology, you do encounter errors (in some cases, even very serious) that are not good for their professional image.
In this article, you will find a checklist useful to avoid any errors in the design phase and to establish an audit methodology that will save you time and most importantly, the disappointments .
Of course, it is not a definitive list of control because each project may require specific controls, but it certainly will give you a basis on which to rely for an independent evaluation of the reliability of the site.
1. Complete all customer requirements
- Verification of requests: if the customer has agreed on a list of features of the site or graphic to be developed, make sure you have completed all tasks including any required changes during development.
- Create a document (example: pdf / excel / word) with the data for access to WordPress Hosting account and domain (if purchased separately).
- Account test: If you have created some accounts for testing, remember to delete them..
- Copyright: Check for copyright and / or Credits: as photo credits or snippet code.
- Text test: If you have the filler text (Lorem ipsum), be sure to delete it and replace it with the final content.
- Customizations test administration: If you customized the WordPress administration panel, make sure that this works for all user roles used by the customer. If uses the Divi Roles, make sure you’ve given to each role the right privileges.
- Test third-party services: if you added some third-party services or insured plugins that work properly and are updated to the latest version (you may need to place a new control even after migration).
2. Compatibility and structure
- Browser Test: Test your website in all popular browsers and also in their previous versions (It may be useful to ask the client browser type used to avoid annoying incompatibilities). These controls is recommended carried out during processing but it is crucial run them before putting the site online.
- Responsive Design Test: Test your site on all popular mobile device. Make sure everything is working properly and that there is the presence of graphical elements that overlap. (For example the text or in the buttons). Currency also, the ability to streamline the mobile version of unnecessary items. With Divi it is also very easy because you can hide section, row or just module with a click. To make your tests you can use these tools: Responsivator or Resizer.
- Test navigation and links: in particular, any redirects.
- Permalinks: Make sure permalinks work well for all content: you may need to reconfigure them.
- Users roles: test the site (front-end and admin) using all the WordPress user roles that your client will be using.
- Contact forms: head all the contact form, trying to send some email, and make sure that all fields generate the correct information.
- Ecommerce Checkout: in the case of an e-commerce you will need to test the entire sales process. If you’re using Woocommerce can use the PayPal Sandbox feature for testing online payments.
- Alt tags: make sure that all images have the Alt tag, useful for SEO but also to improve the accessibility.
- Optimize images and videos: optimizes all images with tools like Imagify or Compressor.io that reduce weight without losing image quality.
NOTE. This article has listed the best tools to optimize images: https://aspengrovestudios.com/8-effective-tools-to-optimize-images/
3. Safety and updates
- Basic SEO: titles and meta descriptions should already be prepared and optimized by theme or added using a plugin like SEO by Yoast. You may have to configure the plugin to suit the needs of your customers.
- Redirect 301: if you worked on the redesign of a website, you probably need to set some redirect 301 to indicate to the search engine of the new link location.
- Search Engine Visibility: if you chose to make invisible the site to search engines, then you need to remember to remove the block.
- Backup: undoubtedly is the most important check of this list, I’m talking about the backup. Make a backup of the files and the database at the time of the launch.
- Set up an automatic backup system: for the theme, the plugin files and database. Determine how it will be managed in accordance with agreements made with the customer. You can use the backup service offered by some hosting or you can use some plugins like Backup Buddy (Premium) or free as iThemesecurity that allow both to secure the entire site you set up automatic backups.
- Configure the site to Google Analytics: either using a plugin or adding the tracking code to the theme.
- Updates and optimizations: Agree on a timetable to evaluate the efficiency of the site, once launched a website, and a good idea to monitor its performance. So it’s good to take a deal with the customer to determine how often you will need to monitor site performance.
- Assistance: Make sure you give your customers all your contacts to be easily contacted in case of need for further site developments or for technical support.
4. Final checks
Get money! I’m sure that you remember surely 😀.
Conclusion
This list is not a final list for all the WordPress developers, but a useful resource not to make mistakes or to deliver incomplete jobs.
You may want to customize this list according to your works and create your own Check Template. You’ll see that will help you speed up and optimize the time in the launch phase, and to identify any problems before the site goes online.
Now it’s your time!
what do you think of this list? there are some basic controls to be added to this list? Write it in the comments 😉